Gravelines All Class In Game One

Dwight Buycks was one of five BCM Gravelines players to make double figures, ending with 18

BCM Gravelines have one foot firmly planted in the EuroChallenge Final Four, easing past Joensuun Kataja 86-57 in game one of their best-of-three EuroChallenge quarter-final play-off series.

Joensuun Kataja, who were perhaps the biggest surprise to be at this stage of the tournament, found themselves completely outclassed in every facet of the game by their French opponents on Tuesday, who never looked remotely in danger of losing.

Despite snowy conditions outdoors perhaps reminding the Finns of the comforts of home, they were quickly reminded just whose court they were playing on as Yannick Bokolo brought the storm from outside into the arena with him, scoring nine first-quarter points to give his team a 24-7 lead on the buzzer.

Bokolo's early fireworks were somewhat dampened with the guard only scoring two more points for the remainder of the game.

The guests were offered little reprieve in the second quarter with the lead going beyond 20 points a minute out from the half.

Even after the break Gravelines refused to give Joensuun Kataja a sniff as head coach Christian Monschau opted to retain a relatively settled roster despite the game already beyond doubt.